Mars

“With Saturn stationing Direct at the same time of a New Moon, we can take what we’ve learned during Saturn’s Retrograde period and apply it to the two-week period of new beginnings offered by the New Moon cycle.”

During the week of July 7, 2013, we see several interesting planetary aspects occur, all taking place in the Element of Water, potentially activating the nurturing, intuitive, feeling side or our psyches. It begins with transiting Saturn in Scorpio stationing Direct on July 8, the same day of the New Moon in Cancer. This is significant because with Saturn stationing Direct in conjunction with a New Moon, we can take what we’ve learned during the Saturn’s Retrograde period and apply it to the two-week period of new beginnings offered by a New Moon cycle. Specifically, Saturn, the teacher, just spent 5 months Retrograde offering us an opportunity to slow down and revisit areas of our lives in which we might not be living by the rules. And if we have been living by them, then it was more of a pause to give us time to consider our next move. If we’ve learned from its teachings, we can resume the exploration into our psyches and transformation through personal growth symbolized by Scorpio. As we mentioned, New Moons represent a time of the month to put into action new plans, ideas, and goals that we might have been contemplating. In Cancer, this New Moon and the two or so weeks following it offer opportunity to allow ourselves to open up and follow our instincts and feelings, and to nurture ourselves or others. Paired with Saturn stationing Direct in Scorpio, this can be the perfect time to teach others (or ourselves) to feel secure and safe through nurturing and sensitivity.

Now, if that’s not enough, Mars transiting from Gemini into Cancer on July 13 will take the planet of action from our minds to our solar plexis. The actions we take will be based less on intellectualization to actions driven by intuition and emotions. In other words, it’s time to get out of your head and into your soul.

Finally, all of this is happening during a Water Grand Trine Transit formed by Jupiter (expansion) in Cancer/trine Neptune (spirituality) in Pisces/trine Saturn (learning/teaching) in Scorpio that started flowing in June and will go exact July 17 before trickling itself out by mid-August. Grand Trines (when three or more Celestial Bodies are in 120 degree aspect to each other, forming an equilateral triangle) symbolize a fortunate aspect that if not used wisely is wasted. That said, this Water Grand Trine is yet another sign to let your emotions, feelings, intuition and creative ability flow into a heightened spiritual awareness and/or awakening (as long as they result in positive outcomes, of course!).

Now, if you lay this overall Sky Picture over your natal birth chart and look to the respective Astrological Signs, Planetary Rulers and Houses of all of these Celestial Bodies (Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, Mars, Moon) and see that their transiting aspects form direct aspect to your natal chart, then you should pay extra attention…for you will have the most to gain…should you choose to. Even if you don’t have this information at hand, you’ll be able to pinpoint how these aspects might be affecting you if you just open up your heart, mind and eyes to what is going on with you and around you. Remember, just follow your intuition and be open to the healing and nurturing that is embodied by the Water Element.

“The attraction, desire, imagination and childlike wonder this planet inspires is undeniable—and irresistible. As are the Aries folk themselves.”

Action! That is the name of the game for the Ruling Planet of Aries Sun Sign, Mars. This forward movement is even apparent in its symbol, a circle with an arrow emerging from it, pointing toward the sky at a 45-degree angle. It is said that the circle represents a warrior’s shield and the arrow, a spear representing the warrior Roman god Mars or Greek god Ares. More subtly, (maybe?) it represents the male sex and iron. I think you can read between the lines on that one. Now, if your mythology lessons still live in your mind, you might be able to remember the two gods were viewed differently, with Rome’s being considered more of a protector. In fact he is also referred to as the god of agriculture, which makes sense if you reason it out. He protected the land by ensuring conditions that would allow the land to be fruitful and by fending off enemies who threatened to take the land. By protecting the people’s food source, he was protecting them too, not so much violence for violence sake. On the other hand, Greece’s god was considered one who engaged in violence just for that sake. So why does the Astrological Sign’s name follow the bad god’s name and the Ruling Planet the good god’s (using these terms loosely of course)? More

Aries (March 21-April 19), the sign of the Ram, is the first of the 12 Zodiac signs. They are the “newborns” of the zodiac and this can be easily seen in their childlike, energetic approach to life, their attention moving from one thing to another as they explore life’s offerings, their loyalties unabashedly simple and uncomplicated. This certain naivete is surely a benefit of being the baby of the Zodiac and of envy to the “older” signs. Even as they grow into adults, these traits generally stick, including a childlike charm that is hard to resist. They are great at starting things but can fall off on the finishing end of the bargain if their attention is distracted by the next shiny thing. That said they go after their shiny objects, whether people, things or ideas, with energy and enthusiasm. The Ram suits these folks as their symbol too. It charges after whatever it has its eye on in bold fashion, regardless of who might get in the way. And their element Fire is appropriate to, giving that spark in most things they do, and even at times to their temperament (think Russell Crowe and Alec Baldwin). You ask how can these people be leaders if they’re off running all over the place all the time acting like children! Well, the Aries quality is Cardinal, which gives them their leadership capabilities. It’s a nice combination if you think about it. Who wouldn’t want to go off and follow someone who can take charge with a certain innocent charm that casts a spell of fun on any endeavor? Oh, don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten the effect of this Sun sign’s Ruling Planet! We will write about Mars in our next post. If you know any Aries, man or woman, it’s a safe bet you’ve noticed these folks’ sex appeal immediately!

It’s important to point out that we are speaking here about the Aries Sun sign’s general traits. Other factors can cancel them out or emphasize them even more, including what House the Sun Sign resides in, the Moon Sign and House, and the Ascendant Sign. Look for a post entitled Astrology 101 soon explaining these elements of a person’s birth personality.